Mental health expert Dr. Sandra Cumper Boynton, Executive Director of National Alliance on Mental Illness Broward County (NAMI Broward County), talks about some critical tips on how to best manage your mental health.
Dr. Cumper Boynton, an established authority with more than 20 years’ experience in Mental Health, can speak about NAMI Broward’s Movement for Mental Health. She has worked with individuals diagnosed with mental health and/or substance abuse, and individuals facing homelessness. Dr. Cumper Boynton holds a Master of Science degree in mental health counseling from Palm Beach Atlantic University and received her doctorate in behavioral health from Arizona State University.
Here are some very useful tips on how to best manage your mental health:
- Accept your needs. Be kind to yourself! Put your own mental and physical well-being first. Recognize what your triggers are to help you prepare for stressful situations. What is making you feel physically and mentally agitated? Once you know this, you can take steps to avoid or cope with stress.
- Don’t try to be a superhero (or heroine). We all have complex family dynamics. Acknowledge them, but also acknowledge that, despite the season’s near-universal message of unity and peace, it’s not a realistic outlook. If you must spend time with these people, try to limit your exposure.
- Don’t worry about how things should be. There’s a lot of cultural pressure and we tend to compare ourselves with these idealized notions of perfect families and perfect holidays. But remember, those other families doubtlessly have their own stressors and ruminations to contend with.
- Keep up or seek therapy. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it may be time to share your thoughts with your mental health professional. They can help you pinpoint specific events that trigger you and help you create an action plan to change them. If you’re already seeing a therapist, keep it up.
I am happy to schedule a time for you to speak with Dr. Sandra Cumper Boynton via Zoom, Skype, or phone. Thank you!
About NAMI Broward County:
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a grassroots organization for individuals living with mental illness, especially serious mental illness, their family members, caregivers, and friends. NAMI Broward County is affiliated with NAMI Florida, Inc., an organization that includes more than 30 local affiliates and 2,000 members across the state. NAMI Broward County’s mission is to advocate for effective prevention, diagnosis, treatment, support, research, and recovery that improves the quality of life of every person affected by mental illness. Throughout Broward County, trained NAMI volunteers bring peer-led programs to a wide variety of community settings. Programs and support groups provide free education, skills training, and support for those living with or supporting a loved one with a mental illness. For more information, please visit www.namibroward.org.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Sandra Cumper Boynton serves as the Executive Director of NAMI Broward County, an affiliate of the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Dr. Cumper Boynton has over 20 years’ experience working in health and human services and has worked with individuals diagnosed with mental health and/or substance abuse, and individuals facing homelessness. In her earlier role as a forensic mental health specialist, Dr. Cumper Boynton served individuals with mental health challenges who were involved in the judicial system and committed to the state hospitals. She also worked with severely mentally ill inmates in Broward County jails. Dr. Cumper Boynton’s position, before joining NAMI, was Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) Manager for Broward County, facilitating mental health training for first responders. Dr. Cumper Boynton holds a Master of Science degree in mental health counseling from Palm Beach Atlantic University and a Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) from Arizona State University.
As an established authority in Mental Health, Dr. Cumper Boynton can provide expert commentary about this subject. Dr. Cumper Boynton has over 20 years’ experience working in health and human services and has worked with individuals diagnosed with mental health and/or substance abuse, and individuals facing homelessness. Dr. Cumper Boynton holds a Master of Science degree in mental health counseling from Palm Beach Atlantic University and a Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) degree from Arizona State University.
NAMI Broward County is dedicated to the eradication of the stigma associated with mental illnesses and to the improvement of the quality of life for all individuals affected by these diseases. The non-profit organization provides free support groups, education classes and seminars, legislative advocacy, and information for people in our community living with mental illness as well as their loved ones. Programs include Family-to-Family, Peer-to-Peer, Ending the Silence, Support Groups, Provider Education, and Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for law enforcement officers.
Cumper Boynton says, “The stigma surrounding mental illness makes it difficult for people to speak openly about their mental illness and even harder for someone to seek treatment. The recovery paradigm in mental health acknowledges family support as a crucial contributor to a person’s recovery from mental illness.”
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